Moving and Driving to Alaska During Covid Times

Our story of driving thru Canada during covid times and closed borders….

On May 6th 2021 we closed our front door of my childhood homestead for the final time in Nine Mile Falls, Washington as we began a 2800 mile journey north to Alaska. As we left our friends and family behind as we drove East we pondering on our future with excitement but with the still the unknown if Canada would allow us entry to transit thru their country during covid and closed borders.  Gary was driving the motorhome pulling a 16ft enclosed trailer, I was driving our 3500 Ram truck pulling a 24ft enclosed car hauler while our friends Mike and Bobbie, Alaskan resident who we flew down for this trek, drove our F-150 truck pulling a flatbed trailer with our Ranger on back.

I had done all my homework and was a prepared as one could be with stacks of paperwork proving our intention of becoming permanent Alaskan residents. Many have questioned why we chose to cross in Montana versus Central WA or Idaho and the main reason is the MT crossing has a Covid testing station at the border versus the other two we would have to do a telehealth zoom call to complete our second test. I’ve heard nothing but nightmares about the zoom call Covid testing and we wanted to make sure we did this right and follow all rules by the book. This is also the most direct route to the Alcan keeping us out of Canadian National Parks, it’s a flatter route and fuel is cheaper in Alberta.

Our first stop was in Missoula Montana where we had made appointments to get our pre-arrival covid PCR (IDNOW) test done per Canada’s rules. We wound our way thru the streets of Missoula to a local Walgreens that was getting test results back within a few hours. It was simple enough. Hardest part was finding parking for 3 large rigs. The four of us walked over to the drive thru and self administered our covid tests and then got some lunch across the street while we waited a bit to make sure our tests were not inconclusive. After an hour or so we headed back on the road north towards Shelby Montana where we would spend the night and head off to the border first thing in the morning.  By 8pm that evening all four test results were back and we were all negative so we were a go for a 8am departure to the border some 30 miles north of our location.

When we made it to the Sweetgrass/Coutts border crossing at 9:20 am the following morning there was about 15-20 vehicles ahead of our three vehicle caravan. Each vehicle thru was taking variable amounts of times. About half way thru our wait they opened up a second lane. The vehicle wait took exactly an hour to pull up to the vehicle agent booth. Gary and I were at the gate at the same time since two lanes were open. I passed over my pet rabies certificates, Covid test results, passport and my Alaska drivers license. He asked the usual questions about alcohol, cash, guns, why we are going to Alaska and if we have been to Iran or Pakistan in the last two weeks. After being cleared from the vehicle gate agent we were instructed inside to immigration. That next process took about an hour and a half to two hours for all four of us to be cleared for entry. Each of us was done separately. We were super lucky to get in when we did because after our group we heard the agent tell someone it would be hours before they could be processed and to wait in their car to be called. 

So our advise is enter as early as you can. In immigration we got some of the same questions and more in-depth of where we will be staying, if we are self contained and have enough food and water for the trip. They did ask how long we think we needed to transit and then we had to wait another 20 or more minutes. When called back up to the counter I was actually given a paper visa document to cross.Passport was even stamped which has never happened before. The agent gave me until the 13th which is 3 days more than I requested. Gary and Mike and Bobbie each were given until the 12th. I only had to prove I was an Alaskan resident. I didn’t have to show employment or my lease. All of our research paid off and our 3 trips up this winter helped tremendously to prepare for our entry into Canada. Of course I over planned and researched but it made it easier on all of us. The agents were super nice and after being cleared in immigration we headed to the nurses station for our second required Covid test. The nurses were great and we had a good time with them regardless of why were there. Another tidbit of advise is pre register for the Switchhealth Portal prior to arrival, this will spread up the time at the nurses station. After 3 hours we were all cleared and ready to proceed. A funny and awesome side note while waiting at the border in Canadian immigration we met an actual neighbor of ours who lives on our new street in Alaska!!! We made introductions and plan to have some bonfires in the near future!!! After a quick lunch in the motorhome we headed north. It was an easy drive but long. We put on 530 miles over the next 7 or so hours and overnighted for free at the Eagle River Casino Truck Plaza in Whitecourt, Alberta. 

The following day the plan was to drive another 500+ miles with the hopes to stop in Fort Nelson and stay the nights at Triple G’s RV Park. After a restful sleep in the truck stop in Whitecourt we got back on the road. The highway was a bit bumpy thru this stretch of road and during a rest stop Gary and Mike noticed we had unusual wear on two of my four trailer tires behind the Ram truck. We were approximately 20 miles outside of Grand Prairie, Alberta so we found a reputable tire store to have them looked at.

At the Fountain Tire in Grande Prairie we ended up swapped out all 4 trailer tires and the spare for four upgraded 10 ply Radar tires. We had one very bad tire that was bulging in the middle and losing tread and was about to have a blow out. Luck was really on our side as we were about to leave civilization and start the Alcan where you can encounter the real bumps in the road called frost heaves. Once we had a sandwich for lunch and refueled all vehicles we continued our journey up the Alcan. Thanks again to Chris and the gang at Fountain Tire who helped us out. We highly recommend them if you are experinceing tire issues if you are in the Grande Prairie, Alberta area. 

The rest of that day was uneventful except for the few rude people in Dawson Creek, BC. Up to this point we had zero issues with Canadian residents while transiting North. As we stopped at Mile 0 to take our obligatory selfie as well as tighten down the lugs on my four new tires a car drove by and yelled at us to “GO HOME”. With that all four of us in unison yelled back “WE ARE”. It wasn’t a polite exchange by either party. Transiting during covid times is stressful and dangerous. Not due to covid but the long hours spent on the road to follow the rules and get thru as quickly as possibly. The unwelcome greeting to the Alcan was unnecessary and not like any other Canadian citizen interaction we had. For those who are opposed to travelers transiting thru, know they have a valid reason and have been granted access to cross Canada. Your unwelcome salutations are just another level of stress not needed when trying to obey the rules. We have said it many times. One of the best things of RVing to Alaska is Canada and well we must remember we are neighbors and we should always show neighborly love in good times and in bad. 

All in all that Saturday May day we drove 530 miles and did make our goal of staying in Fort Nelson BC for the evening.  The office was closed at Triple G’s but paying by cash in their drop box was easy enough. We were able to get a good nights rest as the following day we would be crossing the Northern BC Rocky Mountains and another 500 mile day under our tires. As for wildlife we saw deer, elk, antelope and one black bear as we left civilization and headed north to Fort Nelson. 

Sunday was Mothers Day and we left Fort Nelson in the rain and first stop was the Testa River Lodge for some of the best cinnamon buns in Canada. Gail and Ben run a great lodge and I highly recommend the stop at their little lodge in the mountains. Gail had emailed us the day before and asked us to stop in so we did. Thank you Gail for the cinnamon buns. Next we crossed the Rockies and the scenery and wildlife didn’t disappoint. We saw several black bear, tons of bison, some Big Horn sheep and even some caribou. The weather improved and we had a nice drive. We also fueled in Contact Creek just before Watson Lake to save some $$$ since we are a 3 vehicle caravan (guaranteed lower fuel prices than Watson and the owner was super nice.) We rolled into Watson Lake around 5:30pm and checked in to their Covid check station. Simple enough and soon we were back on our way. We decided to cut short our drive 60 miles short of our planned stop at Johnson’s Crossing and stayed in a rest area right before leaving BC for the final time. (BC dog legs back into BC for a good run after Watson Lake). The rest area was quiet and we shared it with another semi overnight.

Monday morning the 10th of May we got an early start to make up for the 60 miles we didn’t drive the day before. We stopped for fuel in Whitehorse and we again stopped for lunch at a rest area at the south end of Kluane Lake. The little rest at the lake was nice because after Destruction Bay the roads got bad. Like 20-25 miles per hour is really good bad. The roads are always bad in this stretch and we were lucky if we could go 40mph. At some point it was so bad Spirit our husky got car sick. After a brief stop to clean up after her and transfering Spirit from the motorhome to the truck in hopes she would do better with me we continued our way to the border. It was a slow go. We finally made it to Beaver Creek around 5pm. We stopped in Beaver Creek for few more drops of fuel to get me to Tok and I didn’t want to fill my tank… just wanted to get enough to get me to Tok where prices were more reasonable. We then stopped at the Canadian customs office and turned in our Visa documents, our car hangers and our third Covid test boxes (that we didn’t have to take since we were leaving Canada) and said goodbye to Canada. Hopefully next time we see her things will be more back to normal and we can stay awhile and travel her right… slowly that is.

It was another 18 miles between no mans land to the actual Alaska/Canada border and the obligatory stop for pictures at the Welcome to Alaska sign. After quickly and easily clearingUS customs we continued on the last 100 miles into Tok. It is also obligatory for our family to stop for dinner at Fast Eddy’s. Pizza and fried mushrooms are always our favorite when we stop here. After dinner we fueled up at the Three Bears Shell station where our friend Tracy was working as we wanted to say hi and give big hugs and then we continued on to the Sourdough Campground for a well deserved good nights rest. In all we transited Canada in 76 hours. Not how I recommend doing it but in Covid times just thankful we were allowed through. Our final morning on the 11th of May we headed out for the final 300 miles to home in Houston, Alaska. After six full days of driving 2765 miles from Washington to Alaska… in Palmer just 35 miles from home we blew a serpentine belt and was stuck on the side of the road off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. We couldn’t ask for a better place to have a breakdown than in the middle of civilization in the City of Palmer and only 35 miles from home. Gary called a mobile mechanic and within 30 minutes he was on site changing out a new belt for us. With good planning and a spare belt we had bought 2 years ago for a just in case moment like this one. The mechanic also found that wires on the clutch fan were also tore loose but he got it all fixed. If you find yourself needing a mobile mechanic in the Palmer area we highly recommend IMS Mobile Repair!  He was reasonable and got us back on the road within a couple of hours of calling him. We can’t thank him enough for coming out to our rescue after our 6 days of driving to Alaska. God works in mysterious ways and our guardian angels worked overtime to oversee us home safe and sound to begin our next chapter in life at home in Alaska!!!!